The evil twin is a favorite device of storytellers — has been for generations — and the veteran bestselling author Scott Turow gives it fresh life in his new novel “Identical.” A state senator who’s running for Mayor of Kindle County has to deal with an identical twin brother who’s just out of prison, after doing 25 years for a murder he may or may not have actually committed.

In fact, as Turow’s story progresses, it’s less certain who really is the “evil” twin in this family.

Politicians do whatever they have to do to stay in power. Does that sound too cynical? Or is it just being real? Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith have spent nearly two decades studying political and business leaders, all over the world, in democracies, autocracies, dictatorships – and they conclude, cynically or otherwise, that leaders do whatever keeps them in power. And they don’t really care about the “national interest” unless it helps them. Doesn’t matter if it’s the elected president of a large democracy, or the military strongman who seizes power in some third-world country, or the little despot who takes over the PTA. The principles are the same, they say, in their book “The Dictator’s Handbook.”

Listen to Alastair Smith & Bruce Bueno de Mesquita

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Few political figures divide the nation as Sarah Palin does. To some she is a true hero, a leader to revere and emulate. To others she is a scourge, a she-devil who must be kept away from any role in leading the nation.

Author Joe McGinniss set out to try and explain the Sarah Palin phenomenon. But the first thing he did that angered her supporters was to rent the house next door to hers in Wasilla. They won’t be happy to read the book McGinniss has produced, called “Rogue.”

Listen to Joe McGinniss

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